SB214 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jay HoveySenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Line of duty death benefit, expand to volunteer firefighters who die of cancer

Summary

SB214 would expand Alabama's line-of-duty death benefit to cover the survivors of volunteer firefighters who die from cancer, under specified conditions.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill makes survivors or dependents of an active volunteer firefighter eligible for the line-of-duty death benefit. It sets eligibility criteria (minimum six years of service, active status in a recognized department, prior physical showing no cancer, and documentation of exposure to a known carcinogen) and creates a cancer presumption linking the death to the firefighter's service, with the state able to rebut the presumption. It also ties the new benefit to the existing framework in Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 36, and becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Beneficiaries or dependents of active Alabama volunteer firefighters who die from cancer in the line of duty and meet the eligibility requirements.
• Active volunteer firefighters (including those in mixed paid/volunteer departments) who could potentially qualify for the benefit through the exposure and service criteria and their departments (which must maintain exposure records).

Key Provisions

• Extends the line-of-duty death benefit to volunteers who die from cancer, under Article 1, Chapter 30, Title 36, Code of Alabama.
• Defines cancer and volunteer firefighter, and sets eligibility criteria: six years of service, active status, pre-certification physical with no cancer at start, and records showing exposure to a known carcinogen.
• Creates a presumption that cancer linked to a known carcinogen exposure arose from volunteer service, unless the state proves a different cause by a preponderance of the evidence.
• Governs claims under the existing workers' compensation framework and becomes effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Government Administration